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October 2023 October 2023
CITIZENS ADVICE SUMMERLEAZE OPEN AIR POOL, BUDE

After a somewhat mixed ‘summer’ we are now heading In early May, I found myself spending a few days in Bude, the lovely surfing town
towards winter and this means higher heating costs. on the north coast of Cornwall whilst my wife Diana did flowers for a family
There will be an announcement about the Energy Cap wedding at the Falcon Hotel. I was looking forward to this wonderful opportunity
at some point, but heating costs will still put a strain on many people’s budgets. to swim in the Summerleaze tidal open air pool.
So to help you out, here are a few things to check: I was really excited as I walked
Are you getting all the welfare benefits you are entitled to? There’s a good from the Hotel where we were
overview, and links to ‘benefit calculators’, on Citizens Advice: https:// staying, along the canal towards
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/what-benefits-can-i- the sea and the beach. From the
get/ bridge that took me onto the
beach, I could see the pool in all
Are you due any of the Government’s its majesty standing proudly
Cost of Living payments? For example, if amongst the rocks jutting out onto
you are on certain means-tested benefits the beach and sea with the
you will get £300 in the Autumn, and for magnificent backdrop of the
pensioners, if you’re entitled to a Winter Atlantic.
Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024, you
will get an extra £150 or £300 paid with It was a gloriously sunny morning
your normal payment from November as I picked my way up the steps
2023. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost- and onto the pool surrounds and
of-living-payment#low-income-benefits- to what I can only describe as Heaven to a dedicated open water swimmer. Built
and-tax-credits-cost-of-living-payment in the 1930s it nestled into the side of the headland, had a huge swimming area,
oval in shape, around 90 metres in length and a good 25/30 metres across. Sun
Have you got additional costs now the new school year has started? Help is terraces had been carved into the side of the cliff where patrons could sunbathe
available, for example, children in Reception, Year 1 and 2 automatically get or just stop and watch the world go by.
free school meals. You can apply for free school meals for older children if you
claim certain types of benefits, including Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit and A young lady lifeguard was on duty and I stopped and chatted for a while. I
Income Support. Also, if you’re on a low income, your Local Education Authority hadn't brought my swim gear so could I come back later, I enquired. "Yes,
may also be able to help you with activity and school uniform costs. https:// certainly!" was her welcoming reply "we are here until 6pm". "And the cost?" I
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/education/help-with-school-costs/ asked "That sounds a good idea" she said "but we don't charge anybody else"
What a wonderful facility and all for free!
Can you save money on other bills? There are some ‘social tariffs’ for people on
low incomes, for example broadband and phone packages. More information Back I came later in the day to find that my original path to the pool had been
on Ofcom: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for- closed by the rising tide now lapping around the base which was jutting into the
consumers/costs-and-billing/social-tariffs roaring Atlantic. I decided to approach the pool by taking a path over the grass
top cliffs on the other side of the canal. Descending the steps, I was greeted by
And finally, be aware that Dorset is now on the list for ‘managed migration’, my friendly lifeguard "You're back then" The pool was still open but by now we
which means some people on the older benefit systems, like tax credits, will be were in a raging gale as the wind whipped up the rain which began to fall quite
getting a letter saying they need to submit a new claim for Universal Credit. Read heavily. Undaunted, I quickly stripped off and prepared to swim my mile, a total
more here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before- of 18 lengths.
you-apply/moving-to-universal-credit-from-other-benefits/
There were dire warnings about diving into the pool and I could understand why
If you want to talk to a local Citizens Advice office call 0800 144 8848, or visit our as the depth varied throughout its length. Safety is always an issue on a rugged
website at www.centraldorsetca.org.uk to see our office opening times. coast like this and it was good to hear that the RLNI and the Bude Surf Life Saving

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